The Challenge You Might Not Know You Have

Images are essential to modern websites. They attract attention, communicate visually, and support better user engagement. However, there’s a side to image management that’s often overlooked, and it could be costing your organisation in both compliance and performance.
Every image on your site should be understood not just by users but also by assistive technologies like screen readers. That means providing accurate, meaningful alt text that clearly describes each image. 
Although it sounds simple, the reality is that many websites have hundreds, sometimes thousands, of images, and not all of them are being handled correctly.
You might assume your team knows what to do when it comes to alt text. In reality, most content contributors aren’t accessibility specialists. They’re focused on getting content live, and they may not fully understand what alt text is for, when it’s required, how to write it consistently, or even how to check if it’s been included at all.

These gaps lead to three common issues:

1.    Missing Alt Text – Images uploaded with no description at all.
2.    Null Alt Text – Images tagged to be ignored by screen readers (which is correct for decorative images but damaging when applied incorrectly.)
3.    Inconsistent Alt Text – The same image described differently in different places (e.g., “Our Company Logo” vs “Logo”), leading to confusion and poor user experience.

These issues don’t just impact users with visual impairments, they can affect your entire digital strategy. Poor image practices can reduce SEO because search engines rely on alt text to understand image content. They can also expose your organisation to compliance risks under accessibility legislation such as WCAG and the European Accessibility Act.
So, the real question is: How do you stay on top of all this, especially at scale?

The Hidden Cost of Image Chaos

New content is being added to your site every day. Images are uploaded, replaced and reused across different pages. Some images may have correct alt text, while others might lack it entirely.

The real problem? You often don’t know there’s an issue until someone points it out, and by then, it might already be impacting users.

This lack of visibility can lead to a growing list of issues: user complaints, failed accessibility checks, and reduced visibility in search results. Teams can find themselves spending valuable time working backwards, trying to identify and correct issues that should have been spotted earlier. What’s worse is that no one is doing it wrong on purpose. They just don’t have the visibility or tools to do it right consistently.

Lloyd Golley, Chief Operations Officer at Sitemorse, puts it clearly:
 “Addressing these issues isn’t just about compliance—it’s about creating a more inclusive, user-friendly, and high-performing website. By ensuring every image has the right alt text, you improve accessibility for all users, enhance SEO performance, and reduce the time and effort spent on fixing errors retroactively. The right approach transforms image management from a frustrating challenge into a seamless, automated process that benefits both your teams and your audience.”

Gaining Control Through Visibility

What if you could see every image on your site in one place? What if you could instantly find which ones were missing alt text, which were marked as decorative, and which had inconsistent descriptions?
That kind of visibility changes everything. It means issues can be fixed before they go live. It means teams can work confidently, knowing they’re getting it right. It means your organisation becomes proactively accessible, not just compliant under pressure.

How Sitemorse Solves the Problem

Sitemorse offers an automated image inventory and analysis feature designed to help you identify, monitor, and correct image compliance issues at scale.

Here’s how it works:

•    Automated Image Inventory: Sitemorse scans your entire website and builds a live catalogue of every image in use.
•    Accessibility Diagnostics: Each image is assessed, instantly identifying images with missing alt text, images marked as decorative and images with inconsistent or conflicting descriptions.
•    Search and Filter Tools: You can quickly search for a specific image or image type, see where it’s used, and what its status is.
•    Clear Reporting: Understand how your site is performing, identify issues and take action confidently.

This capability is fully automated, powered by AI and machine learning to keep up with even the largest sites. It’s not a one-time audit. It continuously checks your content changes. It’s built for real-world web teams who need practical solutions.

What This Means for You

This isn’t just about ticking a compliance box. It’s about making life easier for your teams while improving the experience for every user who visits your website.

•    Reduce Compliance Risk – Stay ahead of accessibility standards and avoid reactive fixes.
•    Boost SEO Value – Give search engines better insight into your content through properly managed images.
•    Empower Your Teams – With visibility comes clarity. Content creators know what’s needed and how to fix it.
•    Enhance the User Experience – Ensure that every visitor, regardless of ability, can access and understand your content.

Watch How It Works

Take a look at the new image capability in action. This short video explains how Sitemorse gives you control of your image accessibility: https://youtu.be/GgGUB6aGyRc

Final Thought

Images play a huge role in how your website looks and feels. Without proper management, however, they can become silent obstacles, undermining the user experience, reducing accessibility and holding back overall performance. There are also legal implications to consider, with non-compliance posing a growing risk under accessibility regulations.
Sitemorse gives you the tools and visibility to address these issues quickly and at scale. Let’s help you support your teams, enhance user experience for all, reduce legal risk and get it right—first time.